Britain braced for swine flu surge
The Government has insisted it is "business as usual" after the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned a swine flu pandemic was imminent. Skip related content
Related photos / videos
Officials raised the swine flu alert level to phase five of six, suggesting a global outbreak was around the corner.
Government Chief Medical Adviser Professor Sir Liam Donaldson said: "Phase five indicates that WHO considers a global pandemic to be imminent, whereas at phase four a global pandemic is not inevitable.
"A change to phase five is a signal to countries' governments to ramp up their pandemic preparations - which we are already doing.
"We have been planning for a situation like this for some years. The preparations we have in place and are continuing to make will help to ensure we respond well in the event of a pandemic.
"If you have returned from an affected area and have flu like symptoms stay at home, call your GP or NHS Direct and you will be assessed and receive treatment if necessary."
A Department of Health spokeswoman added: "The main message is that it is business as usual.
"The advice from WHO said that countries should activate their own plans and that is something that we have already done.
"Still just five cases in the UK and the evidence that the early anti-virals, such as Tamiflu, are helping people to recover.
"It is important to emphasise that we are still not in the pandemic stage."
Three more people in Britain, including a 12-year-old girl, have been confirmed as having the virus.
The UK's schoolgirl flu victim, from Torbay in Devon, a 41-year-old woman from Redditch, Worcestershire, and a 22-year-old man from northwest London, all contracted the disease after recent visits to Mexico.
The Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust said the 22-year-old man from Barnet had beem admitted to hospital.
A statement read: "The trust can confirm that a 22-year-old male patient at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead has been tested for swine flu and has the virus.
"The patient is currently well and is responding to treatment, which includes anti-viral drugs.
"He is in a single, negative air pressure isolation room and staff are scrupulously following infection control procedures to ensure no other patient or member of staff is at risk.
"He was brought to the trust in a secure, specialist ambulance.
"The patient picked up the virus during a recent visit to Mexico. The Health Protection Agency is following up all those friends and family who have come into close contact with the patient."
Britain's first confirmed victims, Iain and Dawn Askham, of Polmont, near Falkirk, are still being treated in hospital after falling ill on their return from honeymoon.
The Torbay girl was on the same flight back to the UK as the newlyweds.
A new public health campaign is under way with newspapers, television and radio carrying adverts warning people about the disease and how to help prevent it spreading.
An information line providing advice also starts operation today. The public can call 0800 151 3513 for recorded details about the virus.
Stockpiles of anti-viral drugs, currently enough to cover 33 million people, are being increased to provide for 50 million.
Surgical masks with respirators will be produced for frontline NHS staff.
In the UK, 76 people were being tested for swine flu, with 20 possible cases in Wales and 32 in Scotland.
No comments:
Post a Comment